My Funny Valentine

by Rhonda Nelson

  The officer looked at Bella and enunciated his question carefully. “Are you here of your own will?”

  “Yes!” Bella assured him, realization dawning. “Yes , I am. I’m sorry officer. I misunderstood you. I though you asked if I was Joan Will.”

  The officer gave her a look that suggested she had more than one screw loose, then apologized and returned to his car, scratching his head.

  A surreal silence descended around Bella and Gray.

  One look at his lap confirmed that his ardor had wilted along with the near arrest.

  Bella chewed her bottom lip worriedly. At last he turned to her.

  “Joan Will?” he asked.

  Bella shrunk in her seat again, blushing scarlet. Utterly chagrined, she nodded mutely.

  Gray leaned forward in laughter. “Oh, Bella,” he chuckled to her astonishment. “The Dennis the Menace in pigtails image is starting to make sense.” Gray started the car and dropped the gearshift into drive. He tipped her chin up and planted a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. “Let’s go see what mischief dinner will bring.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “Bella, what are you doing?” Lila asked. “Did I tell you that I had a Florence Henderson fantasy? I don’t want that little flip-up do.” Frowning, Lila twiddled her plump fingers at the hair on her nape. “Do something about that, will you, honey?”

  Jerked back into reality, Bella looked at her client in confusion. Flip-flop do? Oh, Bella thought, spying the upward curls in question. She’d been woolgathering. About Gray, no less, and their dinner together last night.

  And that fabulous good-night kiss.

  Mercy, if Bella had ever been more turned on, then she certainly couldn’t recall it. Pure, aching desire had nearly overwhelmed her. Bella considered herself thankful that he hadn’t attempted to seduce her, because, to her unparalleled shame, she would have most likely tripped in her haste to reach is bed.

  Which as all the more reason she had to get this infernal attraction under control. What had she been thinking? Well, she hadn’t been thinking. Her brain had melted right along with the rest of her traitorous body.

  Nevertheless, it was time to put an end to this madness. They’d had such a good week with the repairs, Gray had volunteered to help her over the weekend as well. And it had been a good week, Bella reluctantly admitted.

  Gray was fun; he made her laugh. He genuinely made her feel good. Better still, she felt like she was part of a team—not the coach and players combined. It had been utterly wonderful, having his help. It’d been so long since Bella had had a helping hand that she had almost forgotten what a great pleasure it was to have another person making decisions, even if they were small ones. But it had relieved a little of the stress, nonetheless, and she’d actually relaxed, delighted with the combined pleasure of Gray’s steadfast competency and arousing company.

  Regardless, as soon as they completed the last of her projects, Bella fully intended to limit her contact with the handsome author. The last week spent in his charming company had made Bella all too aware of the fact that, were she to let herself, she could easily tumble head over heels in love with him.

  If you haven’t already, a little voice whispered. The prospect filled Bella’s heart with fear.

  Being sexually attracted to Gray was one thing. Bella could understand basic chemistry. Though she marveled at the strength of the attraction, she nevertheless understood how it worked.

  Being in love was another matter.

  She could not—would not—fall in love again. Bella didn’t have the strength or the will to risk her bruised heart on another romantic relationship. Losing Dan had been so painful that it had taken the better part of two years to come to grips with his passing. She owed it to herself and Ethan not to chance that again.

  Besides, she told herself, the man was Grayson Blake. While he might find the quaint little town of Magnolia Grove enchanting, she wasn’t about to delude herself into believing he’d stay here permanently. Bella knew he wouldn’t. And when he left, Bella firmly resolved that he wouldn’t be taking her heart with him.

  No, dinner last night had definitely been a mistake. She wouldn’t make that error again. She’d been wrong to think otherwise. While their time together had been a pleasure, Bella was now acutely aware of how he’d skillfully extracted almost every pertinent detail of her life from her. In fact, she hadn’t realized until late last night how much she’d divulged of her own life and how little she learned about his. She’d even told him about Dan.

  Not surprisingly, he’d heard already. Bella smiled wryly and her fond gaze surveyed the woman in her salon. It was impossible to keep a secret in Magnolia Grove.

  Still, though he might have heard about her husband’s death, he hadn’t heard how Dan had come to die. And, for the first time in more than a year, Bella could talk about the car accident without her throat clogging with despair. It was almost as if the grief Bella imagined had solidified in her heart, and crumbled bit by bit during the conversation until only dust remained. It had been a curious experience, to say the least.

  What other hurts could Gray’s warm, soothing voice ease? Bella wondered.

  No matter, she briskly reminded herself. She didn’t need to find out.

  “Bella,” Maggie said from her post near the window. She’d been watching Gray and Ethan outside. To Ethan’s unending delight, Gray had let her son help repair the outside faucet. “I’ve been thinking about something this week and I wanted to ask you about it.”

  Something on the other woman’s too casual tone bothered Bella, but she smiled anyway. “”Oh, yeah? What?”

  “I’m gonna take a camping trip, go up to Cherokee Pass. You know, like John and I used to do. Wondered if maybe you’d let me Ethan go with me.”

  “Oh, what a wonderful idea!” Lila enthused. “Why, Ethan would love that.”

  Fayrene ceased blowing her nails and patently false look of utter rapture lit up her wrinkled face. “Camping! Maggie, that’s brilliant. Would you mind if I tagged along? I haven’t been camping in ages. Well, not since me and Walter got locked out of the retirement home and had to sleep in the rocker-glider on the pavilion.” Maggie shuddered with remembered glee. “Now that was a camping experience I’m not likely to forget.”

  “Guess Walter won’t either, “ Maggie remarked drolly. “If memory serves, that was the same night that he threw his back out and ended up in traction for two weeks.”

  Grinning coyly, Fayrene inspected her nails. “He assured me it was worth every iota of discomfort.”

  “Humph," Maggie snorted. “He’d say anything to get in your girdle.”

  “Girdle!” Fayrene yelped, incensed. “I don’t wear a girdle.”

  “Whatever you say,” Maggie smirked.

  Fayrene’s eyes narrowed. “Why, you old—“

  “Ladies,” Lila interrupted. “Back to the camping trip,” she said meaningfully.

  Chagrined, both Maggie and Fayrene gave Bella apologetic looks. “What do you say, Bella? Can we take Ethan?” Maggie asked. “I know he’ll have a good time.”

  Oh, there wasn’t a doubt that her so would love to go camping, Bella thought. However, she knew that Maggie and Fayrene weren’t planning this camping trip for Ethan’s benefit, but rather for her. They were bound and determined to play the matchmakers. Little did they know their efforts were for naught. Bella chewed her bottom lip and wondered what the best course of action would be.

  Her first thought was to simply refuse their offer and thwart the wily conspirators before they could pull another scheme together. But then she thought of how much Ethan would enjoy the camping trip. She and Gray would be busy this weekend finishing up the repairs. She wouldn’t have much time for her little prince and Bella knew she would be bone tired.

  Though she hated to appear as though she were falling for their plans, Maggie and Fayrene, bless their meddling hearts, put her in a no-win situation. They knew Ethan’s happiness always came first and it w
ouldn’t be right if she deprived him of the fun they were offering.

  At last, Bella nodded. “I don’t see why not. When were you planning on leaving?”

  Lila, Maggie and Fayrene all shared a triumphant knowing look, when Maggie launched into their plan for the weekend.

  Maneuvered again, Bella thought wearily.

  ***

  “And what’s this?” Ethan asked.

  Gray looked up from his work. “It’s a socket wrench.”

  The little boy tossed it back into the box. “And what’s this?”

  “It’s a claw hammer.”

  Ethan hummed thoughtfully and rifled through Gray’s toolbox for another tool. “And what’s this?”

  Gray obligingly told him, then continued on with their game of Gazillion Questions. Bella’s insatiably curious son had been plaguing Gray for answers to questions that had no rhyme or reason, and most of the time, didn’t make any sense. Still, he had enjoyed listening to Ethan’s endless innocent chatter. Something about spending time with the little person roused his protective instincts and brought Gray an unexpected happiness.

  “Do ya use all of these tools?” Asked the young inquisitor.

  “Yeah, when I need them.”

  “Who taught you how to use them?”

  “My dad,” Gray said, then instantly regretted it.

  Hammer in hand, Ethan pretended to pound something into the ground. “Oh. How do l’il boys who don’t have daddies learn to use this stuff, then? My dad lives with the angels. He’s in heaven watchin’ over me and my momma. That’s what Momma says. Did you know that?”

  Ray’s throat tightened unexpectedly. “I did.”

  “He’s my garden angel,” Ethan confided. He chucked the hammer back into the box and took out another tool to play with. “I like havin’ a garden angel…but I think I’d like havin’ a daddy more.”

  The comment, announced so matter-of-factly, almost did Gray in. His spinning mind tried to come up with a logical response to the little boy’s innocent remark, but just as he framed a reply, Ethan looked up and spoke.

  “Hey, did ya know that Mrs. Hattie’s been teaching me the Pledge of Uh’legiance?”

  Great shook his head.

  “Yeah,” he confirmed. The subject of daddies and garden angels seemingly forgotten. Ethan stood and placed a grubby hand over his heart and nodded solemnly. “We led the pigeons to the flag of the United States of America…”

  Gray blinked and swallowed a burst of laughter. Oh, how this child could mangle the English language.

  “…with liver tea and just piss for all,” Ethan finished with a flourish.

  From across the yard, Bella clapped enthusiastically. Eyes shimmering with mirth, she made her way to her son and ruffled his white-blond locks. “Well done, darlin’. You’ve been practicing.” Gray met Bella’s gave over Ethan’s head and they shared a secret smile. Lips twitching, it was all Gray could do to keep from howling with laughter.

  “Guess what, handsome?” Bella asked her son. “Mrs. Maggie and Mrs. Fayrene want to take you camping this weekend.”

  “Camping!” Ethan shouted happily. “I get to go camping?” At Bella’s nod, Ethan skipped with glee around the two of them, then darted off into the house with the avowed intention of “packin’ his stuff.”

  Bella and Gray both chuckled at his antics. “He’s a great kid,” Gray told her when the laughter subsided.

  Smiling wistfully, Bella nodded. “Well, I happen to think so…but I’m prejudiced.”

  “Not prejudiced,” Gray corrected. “Just right. He’s been keeping me company for a while. Thanks for letting him come outside.”

  “Oh, no thanks are necessary,” Bella assured. “In fact, thank you for letting me get some work done today without all of my customers having to fake mortal wounds.” Grinning, Bella sighed. “It was blissfully quiet in the salon today without Quick-Shot Ethan.”

  He could imagine, Gray thought. Who would think that much noise could come out of a body so small?

  “So your guardians are taking him camping,” Gray remarked. “Does that mean they finally think I’m trustworthy enough to be left alone in your company?”

  Bella snorted and rolled her eyes. “Humph. Looks that way.”

  Gray detected a wealth of intrigue in that single comment. “Oh?”

  “Yeah. They’ve forgiven you for being an outsider and stamped ‘approved’ on your forehead. You’d better watch it,” she warned playfully. “Maggie will haul you to the Bridal Boutique and have you fitted for a tux.”

  Normally, hearing the words “bridal” and “tux” used so casually would have made Gray panic. But not today.

  Instead, rather than imagining himself garbed in the penguin suit, he saw Bella. Bella in a traditional white gown, her angelic face aglow. Wisps of moonbeam hair cascaded around her slender nape and curled about her creamy shoulders. Gray’s heart seized and, rather than contemplate the true meaning of such a vision, he abruptly shoved the image away.

  “She’d be in for a fight,” Gray managed at last. “I list wearing a tux right up there with hernia exam and tooth extraction.”

  Bella chuckled, her full ripe lips curving into a smile that made Gray want to taste them all over again. He remembered what those lips felt like trailing over his jaw. Down his throat. Instantly, an arrow of heat arced to his groin.

  “Just ignore them,” she told him. “I do. I have to, otherwise I’d go out of my mind. They’ve been matchmaking for me since last year. I tell them that I’m never getting married again, but they pretend they don’t hear me.”

  She never intended to marry again? Unreasonably, a wave of regret swept over him, left him shaken. Bella was a young, attractive woman. Could she have loved her late husband so much that the thought of marriage to another man was simply inconceivable? Had Gray never kissed her, had he never witnessed—sampled—Bella’s untapped passion himself, he would have thought that to be the answer.

  But he had.

  Bella was too hot-blooded, too sensuously beautiful, had too much to offer not to marry again. She didn’t need to be alone. She needed a man who would love her, appreciate her. One who would recognize what a wonderful mother she was to her son. One who would appreciate the special gift of her love, and take every opportunity to just enjoy the pleasure of her company.

  To Gray’s immense emotional discomfort, the faceless new husband he was certain Bella needed suddenly bore an incredible likeness to himself.

  “Never’s a long time, Bella,” Gray said softly. He’d intended to make the comment light, but when the words left his lips, they were absolutely serious.

  Her eyes met his and he saw a wealth of emotion in their sweet blue depths. Lost hope, weary wisdom, resignation. “I know.”

  One realization became painfully clear during the next minute—Bella Valentine had just warned him away. Perhaps not intentionally, but she’d succeeded all the same.

  Though Gray told himself that he’d never had any intention of marrying this single mother with the angelic face, her obvious rejection made his heart ache. He was left feeling as though something wonderful had just been pulled out of his reach.

  “Still planning on helping me this weekend?” Bella asked, interrupting his muddled musings. She was also trying for a light tone, but didn’t quite reach the mark, in Gray’s opinion.

  “Certainly,” Gray told her. Determined to shove his disquieting thoughts aside, he smiled and strove for nonchalance. “Wouldn’t want to miss my home-cooked meal.”

  Bella’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Glad to hear it. I’m making chicken fried steak.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Bella picked up the last of the old shingles from the ground and shoved them into a trash can. Her back and arms ached, and she’d begun to feel a telltale tightening of her skin, an incipient sunburn, she was sure.

  “I’m coming down,” Gray called from the roof. “Hold the ladder for me, would you?”

  Bella
’s heated skin prickled for another as Gray’s velvety baritone washing over her. Mercy, the man was a danger to her senses. The way her body responded to him being around, one would think that she hadn’t resolved to ignore her attraction to him.

  Her gaze traveled from the heels of his shoes, up the long length of his muscled legs and settled at the seat of his jeans. Jeans which were filled out nicely and displayed to their best advantage as he swiftly descended the ladder. Bella’s breath hitched in her lungs and a toe-curling warmth spread through her.

  “Bella?”

  “Yeah?”

  Gray turned and looked at her from over his shoulder. Amusement glittered in his pale green eyes. “You can let go now.”

  “Oh.” Blushing furiously, Bella hopped back so that he could negotiate the last three rungs.

  “Well, that’s got the roof taken care of,” Gray told her, knocking the shingle debris from his legs. Rather than burn as her skin had done, Gray’s had merely turned a golden brown. He looked delicious, Bella thought. Like a larger than life size, powerfully built gingerbread man. Yum. She was suddenly hit with the insane urge to nibble on him.

  Bella told herself to get a grip. And not on him.

  Gray gave her a quizzical look. “Is the heat getting to you?”

  Bella thought quickly. “Uh…yeah. I could use something to drink. Would you like some iced tea?”

  Gary nodded. A shadow of a smile hovered on his lips and something devilish lurked in his gaze. “Sure. I’m going to put the ladder away, then I’ll join you on the porch.

  Cursing herself for being an idiot, Bella started across the yard. Ethan’s toys littered the landscape, sending a pang of loneliness churning through her. Odd how that happened. There were times when Bella didn’t think her tired ears could hear another stream of enthusiastic chatter. But the silence her son’s absence brought seemed to leave a big gaping hole in her everyday life.